Woe to the bloody city, all full of lies and plunder— no end to the prey!
English Standard Version (ESV)
The phrase "all full of lies and plunder" isn't just describing Nineveh's actions, but its very essence; the Hebrew suggests it is utterly deceitful, so permeated by falsehood and robbery that these qualities define its being. This isn't simply about what Nineveh does, but what it is – a city built on deception and violence that has lost its true foundation.
Woe to the bloody city, all full of lies and plunder— no end to the prey!
English Standard Version (ESV)
Nahum is addressing Nineveh, the capital of the Assyrian empire, directly and with immense passion, calling it a "bloody city." This declaration comes after Nahum has already described the impending destruction and devastation that will befall the city, emphasizing its deeply ingrained corruption, deceit, and relentless cruelty in conquest and plunder. The prophet's pronouncement in this verse sets the stage for the detailed account of Nineveh's downfall and the reasons behind God's judgment.
The prophet Nahum opens with a stark declaration: 'Woe to the bloody city!' What made Nineveh so drenched in blood that it earned such a damning title?
Nahum doesn't hold back when describing Nineveh. He calls it a 'bloody city,' a place literally founded and sustained by bloodshed.
Beyond the violence, Nahum points to another core sin: 'all full of lies and plunder.' How did deceit and rapine fuel Nineveh's destruction?
The violence of Nineveh was not a blunt instrument; it was sharpened by cunning and fueled by insatiable greed.
Ask a follow-up
Understand the original words
hoy · Hebrew Interjection
An exclamation of grief, distress, or impending judgment. In prophetic literature, it signifies that divine judgment is inevitable due to persistent wickedness.
ir damim · Hebrew Noun phrase
Literally 'a city of blood,' referring to a city characterized by extreme violence, murder, and bloodshed. In prophetic contexts, it often denotes a center of imperial power built upon conquest and cruelty.
Nahum's prophecy arrives at a critical moment: the Assyrian Empire, once a terrifying force built on violence and deceit, is crumbling. The 'bloody city' of Nineveh, notorious for its rapine and treachery, is facing its own prophesied downfall, a consequence of the very cruelties it inflicted on others.
c. 745 BC
Rise of Tiglath-Pileser III
Tiglath-Pileser III ascended the throne, initiating a period of aggressive expansion and military reforms that solidified the Assyrian Empire. This marked the beginning of a new era of Assyrian dominance and brutality.
c. 700-650 BC
Assyrian Cruelties and Imperial Expansion
During this period, Assyrian kings like Sennacherib and Esarhaddon engaged in brutal campaigns, often destroying cities, deporting populations, and inflicting horrific punishments. Nineveh, as the capital, became a center of immense power built on conquest and oppression.
c. 650 BC
Internal Strife and Growing Instability
Internal power struggles and rebellions, such as the one led by Assurbanipal's brother Shamash-shum-ukin in Babylon, weakened the empire. This period saw increasing reliance on mercenary troops and a less cohesive national identity.
626 BC
Nabopolassar Establishes Neo-Babylonian Empire
Nabopolassar, a Babylonian governor, revolted and successfully established a new empire, breaking away from Assyrian control. This began the final decline of the Assyrian Empire.
612 BC— this verse
Fall of Nineveh
A coalition of Babylonians, Medes, and Scythians besieged and utterly destroyed Nineveh. The city's defenses were breached, leading to widespread slaughter, looting, and its eventual abandonment.
This passage also describes a 'bloody city' that will be judged, emphasizing how its filthiness and sin become evident, mirroring the judgment coming on Nineveh.
Jeremiah 50:37This verse speaks of Babylon's destruction, calling it a 'city of confusion' and foretelling its scattering, much like Nahum portrays Nineveh's inevitable downfall and the dispersal of its people.
Psalm 7:2This psalm speaks of being torn in pieces like a lion, a metaphor that resonates with the 'robbery' and 'prey' mentioned in Nahum, highlighting the violent and predatory nature of the city being judged.
Ezekiel 7:23This passage describes the land filled with 'wickedness' and 'violence' and the subsequent judgment, echoing Nahum's condemnation of Nineveh for its sinfulness and impending doom.
barnesNahum 3:1: "Woe to the bloody city! it is all full of lies and robbery; the prey departeth not;"
Woe to the bloody city - Literally, "city of bloods" , i. e., of manifold bloodshedding, built and founded in blood Habakkuk 2:12 ; Jeremiah 22:13 , as the prosperity of the world ever is. Murder, oppression, wresting of judgment, war out of covetousness, grinding or neglect of the poor, make it "a city of bloods." Nineveh, or the world, is a city of the devil, as opposed to the "city of God." : "Tw…
ellicottNahum 3:1: "Woe to the bloody city! it is all full of lies and robbery; the prey departeth not;"
(1) Woe to the bloody city !—Better, O bloody city! She is altogether deceit, filled with crime: she ceases not from plunder.
The phrase "all full of lies and plunder" isn't just describing Nineveh's actions, but its very essence; the Hebrew suggests it is utterly deceitful, so permeated by falsehood and robbery that these qualities define its being. This isn't simply about what Nineveh does, but what it is – a city built on deception and violence that has lost its true foundation.
Nahum is addressing Nineveh, the capital of the Assyrian empire, directly and with immense passion, calling it a "bloody city." This declaration comes after Nahum has already described the impending destruction and devastation that will befall the city, emphasizing its deeply ingrained corruption, deceit, and relentless cruelty in conquest and plunder. The prophet's pronouncement in this verse sets the stage for the detailed account of Nineveh's downfall and the reasons behind God's judgment.
Nahum is addressing Nineveh, the capital of the Assyrian empire, directly and with immense passion, calling it a "bloody city." This declaration comes after Nahum has already described the impending destruction and devastation that will befall the city, emphasizing its deeply ingrained corruption, deceit, and relentless cruelty in conquest and plunder. The prophet's pronouncement in this verse sets the stage for the detailed account of Nineveh's downfall and the reasons behind God's judgment.
"Woe to the bloody city, all full of lies and plunder— no end to the prey!" — The phrase "all full of lies and plunder" isn't just describing Nineveh's actions, but its very essence; the Hebrew suggests it is utterly deceitful, so permeated by falsehood and robbery that these…
Get the original Greek and Hebrew, verse-by-verse context, and related passages inside the app.
Last reviewed October 2026